We aborted the SpaceX Public Scoping Meeting after about 2 hours as Nena got a coughing spell. We had gotten the gist of it, though, as the stern, expressionless, Ms. Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Protection Specialist with the FAA, had kept us all in line with admonitions about cell phones and "talking in the halls."
After Zee laid out the timeline ahead of us, including an Environmental Impact Study(She used the abbreviated form, EIS), several of the city's and region's most prominent officials read statements of support, then handed Ms. Zee a letter of support or a proclamation.
Jose Martinez, a junior at UTB and physics major had the line of the night when he told Zee: "I don't have any important papers to hand you, but I just want to shake your hand."
The ITEC Center was packed in sharp contrast to one year ago when Bob Hedrick, then president of Pan American, but now in federal court facing child pornography charges, held a forum on air cargo. Hedrick had only advertised in the Brownsville Herald, whereas Craig Grove of Brownsville Living and Gilbert Velasquez had given this event considerable hype in social media.
Public officials, including Mayor Tony Martinez seemed almost buoyant (I was tempted to say "experiencing weightlessness," but it just didn't fit.), each wearing a SpaceX insignia.
Some meaningful words were spoken extemporaneously by an an official from McGregor, Texas, a town of 5,000 that advertises itself as "equidistant between Dallas and Austin," but should probably just tell us it's 15 miles from Waco. The McGregorite said SpaceX had been a "good corporate partner," with extreme "environmental sensitivity." He said the jobs brought exceeded his region's average pay by 30% and he added in humor that "most" of those emigrating to McGregor for SpaceX had been good citizens.
Commissioner Jessica Tetreau praised SpaceX in brief comments, then lifted her young son up to the microphone. "I support SpaceX" were young Tetreau-Kalifa's words.
Before the festivities, we spoke briefly with Pastor Brad, the minister who more often than not blesses the City Commission meetings. Brad quickly picked up on some doubt I expressed, so I elaborated that Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX had been quoted as appreciating local support for his project but somewhat disappointed in the support of state officials. I wondered out loud if Musk was fishing for state funds. Brad said he found the quote odd too, but we both agreed that the Brownsville Herald may have misquoted him.
State Representative Rene Oliveira, in his remarks, cleared up what he characterized as a misconception that Governor Rick Perry was not behind the project. Oliveira brought with him a letter from Perry in support of SpaceX and also announced $3,200,000 in state funds to get the 5 acre SpaceX footprint near Boca Chica "shovel ready."
Leaving the rarefied atmosphere of the ITEC Center, we encountered S. Grady Deaton, Joe Boswell and others from the Brownsville Bike Brigade on the sidewalk outside. One brigadier had his copy of the glossy 8-page SpaceX handout rolled up like a telescope and was staring off into space. We didn't stop to inquire, but continued walking to our truck. Someone had put a flier under the windshield wiper reminding us of early voting and recommending Ramiro Garza for Congress.
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I was there long enough to make sure that the politicians don't care about any environmental damage this project may do. The proof of that is that not a one suggested that his/her support was provisional, depending on what the EIS had to say. I wasn't surprised by this as earlier in the month the Herald quoted a city employee saying that there is nothing but sand out there. This was clearly a statement based on the supreme confidence of total ignorance. The area is, in fact, loaded with life from the benthic community up to white-tailed deer. And I don't mean the nearby area. I mean the area (eight acres according to SpaceX) that will be directly under there launch pad. The area is an important rest and feeding area for shorebirds and wading birds and that in turn makes it an important area for birds of prey, including both Peregrine Falcons and Aplomado Falcons. And though I suspect the SpaceX project will do less damage then the unbridled and unregulated assault on the coastal environment by the ever multiplying wind farms, it will still take away a little from of the Valley's wild areas. With about 98% of the Valley already cleared, can we afford to lose even another square foot? And don't forget that ecotourism brings tens of millions of dollars into the Valley every year and every time we reduce our available wild areas as was done by the construction of the border wall, we reduce the ecotourism dollar to the area. Finally, can there be any doubt that this is going to be the end of Boca Chica Beach as we know it. Once the infrastructure goes in to support this project it will lead to the development of the area. First by the county who will put in some end of the road bathrooms to be poorly maintained and vandalized and there will need to be a nearby store for the 900 people working out there and a place for them to eat and maybe get gas. And will the highway support the heavy weight of the trucks carrying all those rockets? It was built for passenger car traffic not industrial use. It just goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteI hope the community informs itself because community leaders are not anywhere near offering an objective few of this project. They are just telling us what they want us to know, not what we need to know.
Mescalero
Browntown gets fooled again. My question: how can this town take it up he arse so often, and everytime something comes down the highway? LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteHow in the hell did Rene Oliveira get $3,200,000.00 so easily for this proposed project?
ReplyDeleteSince we have no citizens willing to invest in our community, we need to look closely at every "Free" opportunity we have. Unlike McAllen (where the citizens invest in their town) here citizens are don't invest in their town....they seek free stuff...welfare. So, we get little and have low expectations.
ReplyDeleteRene Oliviera is a DICK!
ReplyDelete